Heat wave sparks fire alerts across Portugal, Spain, France, Italy

A scorching heat wave is affecting southern Europe, with temperatures reaching 40 °C in parts of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. In Portugal all districts are under yellow fire alerts and more than 160 municipalities face maximum fire‑danger warnings. Spain has raised alerts to orange in Andalusia due to 90 km/h winds, while similar heat warnings are active in the Balearic Islands, Extremadura and Galicia. France expects temperatures up to 36 °C in the south and Italy forecasts peaks above 30 °C, prompting regional heat alerts.

In Spain, forecasters predict daytime highs above 35 °C and strong winds, with thunderstorms expected over interior regions. Health authorities stress that the extreme heat increases hospital admissions, absenteeism and reduces productivity, urging older adults, children, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity and use sun protection.

Designers in Zurich have introduced a 3‑D‑printed, porous brick that can cool bus‑stop shelters by up to nine degrees without electricity, offering a low‑tech solution to the urban heat island effect that intensifies the discomfort of street‑level heat.